Fountain massage device



D. M. ACKERMAN FOUNTAIN MASSAGE DEVICE Aug. 2;, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Fild Nv'. 2o. 19451 IN VEN TOR. DOLLE TIA M. ACKERMAN Aug;21,l951D.M.ACKERMAN FOUNTAIN MASSAGE DEVICE E Filed NOV. 20, 1945 FIT.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 DOLLETTAMACKERm/v C/MM/M ATTO NEY Patented Aug. 21,i951 UNITED .i STATES PATENT OFFICE Y i 2,565,109" A p lFOUNTAIN MASSAGEDEVICE v Dolletta M. Ackerman, Los Angeles, Calif. Application November20, 1945, Serial No. 629,759

This invention relates to treatment appliances and more especially to aroller massage device having features wherebya flow of fluid, eitherunder pressure or by suction, iscoactable with the roller foraccomplishing massage or other treatment. The invention alsocontemplates the utilization of the huid flow features in connectionwith various other treatmentdevices, such as combs, brushes, hair`curlers, bath sprays and the like.

The general object of the invention is the provision of a massageappliance combining pneumatically, hydraulically or mechanically actingelements capable of simultaneously .performing the dual function ofmechanical rolling engagement, and pneumatical o r,h ydraulicalapplication of a partial vacuum or pressure to the body surfaces,thereby effectively massaging such surfaces in a novel andbenecial'manner.

The invention-according to apreferred form thereof, provides anappliancecomprising a manually actuated implement having a hollow rollerformed with a peripheral circumferential shell, provided with aplurality of axially extending parallel slots forming a port for thepassage of a fluid from a tubular bore member on which the roller isrotatably mounted, the fluid being conducted to or from the rollerthrough conduit passages in the roller mounting structure including thehandle. The tubular handle is adapted to be connected to a fluid supply,either air or liquid under pressure, or by pneumatic connection tosource of a partial vacuum.

The foregoing objects and purposes of the invention, as well as others,will become more apparent and be brought out more fully in the followingspecication, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal section of a treatment appliancecomprising a massage roller embodying a form of my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation.

Figure 4 is an enlarged View, partially broken away, ofa modified rollerelement which can be substituted for the roller of Figures 1 to 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure l, showing a modified form oftreatment appliance.

Figure 7 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 1-1 of Figure6.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and especially to Figures 1to 3, I show a massage aclaims. (o1. 12s-65) roller head having an outertubular member I5 formed with a bore I6 having a longitudinal slot I1.The ends of tubular member l5 are supported by and secured to a pair ofend portions It of an inner tubular member I9, and a roller 20 isrotatably mounted on tubular member l5Y and retained'between end'portions I8. Roller 2l) is formed with a plurality of radial slots 2l,the peripheral portions of which are rounded as at 22 where the rollercomes in contact with a body portion being treated. One or both of endportions I8 may be secured as by screws 23 to the inner member i9. Themember I3 has a'fluid passage [9a which connects with similar passagesin end portions IB which are in communication with bore I6.

A handle'24 is suitably detachably connected to member I9 substantiallymidway between its a threaded connection 28 to handle 24 and is adaptedto be secured to a flexible hose 29. Hose 29 may comprise a plurality ofsections between a pair of which sections a receptacle 3G may beconnected. Receptacle 30 is shown as having a pair of hollow sectionsconnected together by lany suitable inter-locking formation 3l, thesections each having -a connector 32 for the attachment of a hose 29.Receptacle 30 is adapted to hold a saponaceous article or material whichmixes slowly with a fluid passing through the tubular passages into andthrough the roller element 2u.

In Figures 4 and 5 I show a modified form of roller which may besubstituted for roller 23. In these figures the roller is indicated at35, having a bore 36 and a plurality of radial slots 31 and beingadapted to be mounted on a tubular member 38, having bearing portionsfor bore 36, but having a smaller diameter than the bore except for aradial bore 39, which has a longitudinal slot 40 communicating betweenthe bore of tubular member 38 and the radial slots 31. Between theradial slots 31 there are provided a plurality of longitudinal bristleelements 4 I secured in grooves 42 which are rounded as shown, retainers43 being provided whereby elements 4| may be detachably secured ingrooves 42.

In Figures 6 and '7 I show a modified form of treatment head, similarhowever in principle to that of Figures 1 to 5. In these figures I showa roller 45 having a plurality oi radial slots 46 and rotatably mountedon an outer tubular bearing member 41a, the roller being held in placeby a screw 48 threaded into an end of the member 41a. A tubular endportion 41 is connected between the member 47a and an end of an innertubular member 49, The outer tubular member 47a has a slot 50 whichcommunicates with the tubular members. The inner member 49 is connectedby a tubular extension 49a to handle 24 having the fluid passage 26 asdescribed hereinabove.

The operation of the invention as thus far described should be apparent.The device of Figure 1 or Figure 6 is manipulated by hand and applied toany portion of the body to be massaged and moved there-over andthere-against with such pressure as may be desired and mostV effective.It it be desired to effect the massage operations with suction features,the flexible hose 29 is connected to any suitable source providing apartial vacuum and this is eifeoted by the alternate closing and openingof the passage formed by slots 2|; or 46 of the rollers and slots if! or50 of the tubular If it is desired to effect the masy bearing sleeve.saging operations with a flow of fluid under pressure, such as water,hose 29 is connected to such source of water pressure and` the massagingeffected in an obvious manner. If a saponaceous article or analogousmaterial is desired to be mixed with the water flow such material can beinserted in receptacle 30 to which the sections of hose 29 may beattached.

The invention as shown and described is adapted for many uses such asthose referred to here and above, and the roller structures of Figures 1and 7 are also capable of being used in connection with an electricvibrator or the like wherein an oil or other solution may be dischargedfrom the sloted openings when vibrated.

The slots i7, 40, 50 and T8 may be reduced in length or increased innumber such as slots 53 or the slots may be replaced by a series ofholes if manufacturing practice should so indicate, the function of theholes beingthe same as the slots, and in like manner the slots 2| and 46may be replaced with holes or apertures similar to apertures 65.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fountain massage device, including a handle having an axial bore, atubular element fixed to one end of said handle transversely thereof andhaving a longitudinal slot, said slot communicating with said bore, amassage roller mounted for rotation on said tubular element and having aplurality of longitudinal slots opening through the periphery thereoffor successively registering with the slot of the tubular element, andmeans connected with the other end of said handle and a source of fluidpressure for the discharge of the fluid outwardly through the said slotsas the massage roller is rolled in contact with the body of a person.

2. A fountain massage device, including a handle having an axial bore,comprising a head formed with spaced aparallel tubular inner one andouter members and interconnecting end portions, a tubular extensionprojecting from the inner of said members medially between its ends andengaged in the said bore at one end of the handle, said outer memberbeing longitudinally slotted, a massageroller mounted for rotation onsaid outer member and having a plurality of longitudinal slots openingthrough the periphery thereof and adapted to successively register withthe said slot in said outer member, and means connected with the otherend of said handle and a source of fluid pressure for the discharge ofthe uid outwardly through said slots as the massage roller is rolled incontact with the body of a person.

DOLLETTA M. ACKERMAN.

file of this patent:

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